Ankle guard



y 21, 1968 D. M. PAPPAS 3,383,708

ANKLE GUARD Filed Jan. 21, 1965 INVENTOR. DONNA M. PAPPAS ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,383,708 ANKLE GUARD Donna M. Pappas, 205 Mackinaw Road, Akron, Ohio 44313 Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,883 Claims. (Cl. 2-22) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The angle guard of the invention includes an elongate flexible band to extend around the ankle of the wearer and a resilient padding is carried by the band to fit over the ankle bone of the wearer. Adjustable and releasable strap means are provided on the end of the band and adjustable and releasable strap means connect to the band and are adapted to pass beneath the foot of the wearer.

This invention relates to improvements in an ankle guard, and more particularly to a guard for protecting the ankle bone of a bowler during bowling ball delivery.

Heretofore, it has been known that there have been various types of shin guards, ankle guards, and the like provided for various protective actions. However, most of of these guards have been uncomfortable, heavy, expensive, confining, and ditficult to put on and take off. Further, they have not usually been readily adjustable or adaptable to provide protection to the ankle and/or ankle bone on the inner or outer side of the foot, nor could most of them be used on either foot. None of these prior art ankle guards have provided simple but positive means to insure that the guard will stay firmly in position. For example, Patent No. 2,784,411 shows a simple guard which does not readily conform to a persons ankle, and which has a tendency to slide up during use. Similarly, a spat type protector shown in Patent No. 2,872,745 is an awkward and extremely cumbersome unit which is much too expensive, and elaborate for use with bowling. Further, such protector does not provide suitable means at the ankle bone itself, which is the vulnerable area during bowling.

Therefore, it is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provisions of an ankle guard for bowlers which is highly effective, extremely simple, inexpensive, and very easy to apply in a secure position.

A turther object of the invention is to provide an elastic ankle guard which readily adapts and fits to anyones ankle in a firm resilient manner, and which further utilizes a plurality of adjustable means to insure a tight and secure positioning of the ankle guard in a desired position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ankle guard which utilizes a strap passed under the persons foot and around the arch thereof to eliminate sliding of p the protector up and over the persons ankle bone.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable bowlers ankle guard which may readily be positioned on the inner or outer side of either ankle to provide desired protection to the ankle bone.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bowlers ankle guard which utilizes a rib or edge-supported type protective padding to thereby substantially eliminate any direct blow on the ankle bone as the force of any blow is taken on the ribbed protective support padding.

The aforesaid objects of the invention and other objects which will become apparent are achieved by providing in an ankle guard the combination of an elongated flexible band having suflicient length to pass around the ankle of a wearer, a padding material operatively carried by the band and fitting over the ankle bone of the wearer, an adjustable releasable strap means on the end of the band to "ice insure a tight fit of the band around the wearers ankle, and adjustable elastic releasable strap means connected to the band adapted to pass beneath the foot of the wearer substantially around the arch to prevent the band from sliding up over the ankle of the wearer.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a broken away elevation of a wearers foot with the ankle guard positioned around the ankle in its proper place for one of several operative positions for the guard;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the foot of FIGURE 1 from the opposite side showing the relative position of the releasable strap means;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the normal outside of the ankle guard shown in FIGURES l and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the normal inside of the ankle guard shown in FIGURES .1 and 2.

With reference to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally an ankle guard which comprises an elongate flat band 12 which may be cut in a curved shape so that when the band 12 is joined end to end, it becomes slightly conically shaped to more nearly conform to the enlarging tapering relationship of a persons ankle from the foot up through the ankle and starting into the leg. A pair of tabs 14 and 16 are operatively formed as a part of or attached to the band 12. In other words, the tabs 14 and 16 may be cut from the same piece of material and be integral with the band 12. In order to provide an adjustable securing means between the tabs 14 and 16, conventional securing material, such as Velcro, may be sewn or otherwise attached into position thereon for engagement between any contacting portions of the material. In other Words, the hook portions of the Velcro might be sewn onto the tab 16 and with the fibrous, or fabric portion 18 of the adjustable attaching material sewn onto the tab 14. A substantially elliptical or oval shaped foam, or sponge padding material is positioned at about the center of the band 12 and held in place by a flap 20 sewn or otherwise secured into position on the band 12. The oval shape is illustrated by the raised portion 22 at the center of the band 12 as seen in FIGURE 3.

In order to secure the position of the band 12 in relation to a wearers ankle, an elongated strap 24, also integrally formed or cut from the same material as the band 12, extends from adjacent one end thereof, at an oblique angle, or about substantially perpendicular from the longitudinal axis of the band 12. A hooked portion 26 of a Velcro or similar releasable securing means is operatively sewn into position on the end of the strap 24. The hook material 26 is adapted to be secured to sections of a rough fibrous material 28 and 30 positioned at either side of the raised portion 22 at the center of the band 12. The material 28 or 30 to which the hooked portion 26 is secured is dependent upon the ankle upon which the guard is Worn, or the side of the ankle bone desired to be protected, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

In order to adequately guard the protruding ankle bone with the cushion shown in the raised portion 22 or FIG- URE 3, the inside of the raised portion 22 is provided with two raised ribs 32 and 34, as seen in FIGURE 4. In proper use of the guard 10, the raised ribs 32 and 34 will be positioned on either side of the protruding ankle bone to, in effect, provide a support therearound so that any blows received directly on the oval outer surface 22 will be transmitted through the ribs 32 and 34 and not directly against the bone itself. Also, the ribs 32 and 34 aid in maintaining the padding 22 over the ankle bone. It is contemplated that the raised ribs 32 and 34 will usually be formed as an integral part of the oval padding 22,

and that such padding will be formed from a conventional resilient foam, either rubber or plastic. It should further be understood that the flap 20 will cover the foam or plastic padding on one side while the other side is covered by the band 12.

FIGURES 1 and 2 clearly illustrate the normal relationship of the guard 10 on the left foot of a wearer. In this instance, the conical taper of the band 12 is upwardly with the tabs 14 and 16 being attached together by the attaching means on their adjacent surfaces, as seen in FIGURE 2, to provide a tight fit around the wearers ankle 36. Naturally, because the band 12 may be slightly elastic, it is desirable to stretch the band 12 slightly when it is applied so that a tight fit around the ankle is insured. The oval padding 22 is appropriately positioned over the inside ankle bone so that the bone will rest substantially between the raised ribs 32 and 34. The strap 24 is then passed under the wearers foot 33 substantially around the arch portion thereof and the hook portion 26 is attached to the forward rough receiving fabric 28. Again, the strap 24, which may be slightly elastic, is stretched slightly as it is secured into position on one of the roughened fabric portions 28 and 30 so that a tight downward pull on both forward sides of the band 12 is achieved. The positioning of the strap 24 insures that there will not be any upward sliding of the band 12 during operational use by the wearer.

Of course, it should be understood that the same guard 10 may be positioned upon the right foot of a wearer with the padding 22 appropriately positioned over the inside protruding ankle bone. In this instance, the strap 24 will again pass under the wearers arch, but will be attached to the roughened receiving fabric portion 30. Similarly, the same guard 10 might be positioned on the outside protruding ankle bone of either foot sim ly by wearing it on the left foot as if it were on the inside ankle bone of the right foot, and conversely on the outside of the right foot as if it were on the inside ankle bone of the left foot. Thus, in every instance, the ankle bone is normally positioned between the raised ribs 32 and 34 and the position of the strap 24 relative to the receiving rough or fibrous fabric portions 28 and 30 is simply changed. The flexible and/or elastic quality of the material comprising the band 12, and the stra 24, permits the band to readily adjust to any sized ankle while providing a secure, comfortable and highly effective guard.

The band 12 may be made from any suitable material such as a fabric or plastic sheet.

It should be noted that the ankle guard on the invention also will provide ankle support action as the guard preferably is snugly attached to the wearers ankle and hence will brace or support it. The unit at all times will also guard, or protect the ankle bone.

It will be realized the positions of the complementary attaching means of the ankle guard may be reversed from the positions shown and that the strap 24 would be attached to means on the outer surface of the band 12, if desired.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the invention have been achieved by providing a one piece ankle guard which can readily be attached to a persons ankle and which is easy to carry and store. The guard 19 fits either foot and may easily be made to fit any size ankle, and particularly for the novice, it tends to eliminate injury from a bowling ball hitting upon such a sensitive spot as a protruding ankle bone. The guard is not costly and will give a good service life.

In accordance with the patent statutes, only one best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, but it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ankle guard, the combination of an elongated flexible band having sufficient length to extend around the ankle of the wearer,

a resilient padding material operatively carried by the band and adapted to be fitted over the ankle bone of the wearer, the padding material having raised rib portions to support the padding material on the ankle bone,

an adjustable engageable and releasable strap means on the ends of the band to insure a tight fit of the band around the wearers ankle, and

adjustable releasable strap means connected at one end to the band and adapted to pass beneath the foot of the wearer substantially around the arch to prevent the band from sliding up over the ankle of the wearer, said strap means being adjust ably engageable at its free end with said band.

2. In an ankle guard, the combination of an elongated flat band, slightly arcuate in plan view when flattened out so as to form a tapered cone shape when attached end to end and having suflicient length to pass around a wearers ankle,

engagement means operatively carried by each end of the band and being adapted to be releasably and adjustably secured together to firmly attach the band around a wearers ankle,

padding means operatively carried at the center of the band having a raised rib around at least a portion of the periphery thereof so the raised rib supports the padding around the ankle bone of a wearer,

a strap extending from one end of the band substantially perpendicularly away from the outward arcuate side thereof, and

means to releasably secure the end of the strap to the band after it is passed under a wearers foot substantially around the arch portion thereof on either the forward or rearward side of the padding means.

3. In an ankle guard, the combination of an elastic elongate fiat band forming a tapered cone shape when attached end to end and having sutficicnt length to pass around a wearers ankle,

elastic tab means extending from each end of the band being releasably and adjustably secured together to firmly attach the band around a wearers ankle,

padding means positioned at substantially the center of the band, said padding means having a raised rib around at least a portion of the periphery thereof so the raised rib supports the padding means around at least one protruding ankle bone of a wearer whereby the padding means protects the protruding ankle bone,

an elastic flap uniformly formed with the band at about the center thereof and folded back over the padding means and operatively secured to the band to retain the padding means in fired relation to the band,

an elastic strap ertending from one end of the band substantially perpendicularly away from one side thereof and being uniformly formed therewith, and

means to releasably secure the end of the strap to the band after it is passed under a wearers foot substantia ly around the arch portion thereof on either side of the padding means to thereby adapt the guard for wearing on the protruding ankle bone on either ankle a wearer.

4. In an ankle guard, the combination of an elongate flat band having sufiicient length to pass around a wearers ankle and having an inner and an outer surface,

engagement means operatively carried by each end of the band and being adapted to be releasably and adjustably secured together to firmly attach the band around a Wearers ankle,

padding means operatively carried by the band to cover the ankle bone of a wearer, the padding means having raised rib portions to support the padding on the ankle bone,

a strap extending from the band to extend under the arch of a person Wearing the guard,

attaching means secured to the strap adjacent the free end thereof, and

means to releasably secure the end of the strap to the band after it is passed under a wearers foot, said means comprising two attaching members onth inner surface of said band and spaced axially thereon, said attaching members each being adapted to engage said attaching means in an adjustable and releasable manner dependent upon how the guard is positioned on a wearers ankle.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said band is slightly arcuate in plan view when flattened out to form a tapered cone shape when attached to a wearers ankle by engaging the ends of said band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

I. BOLER, Assistant Examiner. 

